Once perceived as transformative, Obama now looks more and more like a regular politician, ensnared by petty squabbles, obsessed with politics instead of leadership, and often paralyzed by decision-making.

Bush was a disaster at cutting spending, but under Obama the U.S. deficit is $1.8 billion and the cost of health-care reform is $829 billion. These numbers are going to sink us, says Christopher Buckley. WATCH VIDEO.

The last year has taught a hard lesson in the power of a determined minority to keep the majority in check. Forty senators representing about 9 percent of Americans can filibuster Obama’s initiatives—and the media declares him a failure.

For the president to have a chance at becoming another FDR, he needs a big push from the left—or the conservative assumptions that have kept the nation in thrall for the past three decades will continue to hold sway..